Grey Zane by 1933 The Hash-knife Outfit by Zane Grey

Author:1933 The Hash-knife Outfit, by Zane Grey [1933 The Hash-knife Outfit, by Zane Grey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-26T06:06:59+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

All too soon that dance ended, and Jim got Molly into an out-of-the-way corner, where a few other couples, evidently lovers, were too concerned with themselves to look at anyone else.

Jim believed the tide had turned in his favour, though tragic little Molly was unconscious of it. She gazed up at him as if fascinated, with almost a terrible yearning and hopelessness. “Don’t do it,” whispered Jim, “or I’ll kiss you right here.”

“Do—do what?”

“Look at me like that…Molly, you’ve sure made a mess of Christmas Eve, but it’s not too late.”

“Oh, yes, Jim dear, it is too late,” she sighed, mournfully. “They all gave me—the cold shoulder. Except Glory, bless her! I—I cain’t realise she didn’t take me at my word.”

“Not Glory. And what do you care for the others? You won’t have to live with them…Molly, you were mistaken in this Darnell. He’s no good. He very nearly ruined Gloriana. What she told you was true. Look how he has treated you—”

“Jim, I don’t need to be told now,” she interrupted bitterly. “He’s made a fool out of me…But only tonight did I learn he’s no good. Before we got here. He—he insulted me, Jim.”

“Did he?—Well, that’s not surprising. Just how?” returned Jim, in cool, hard query. “I hope he didn’t lay a hand on you.”

“He laid two hands on me,” she said frankly. “An’ he was ‘most as bad as Hack Jocelyn, if you remember, Jim…I was aboot ready to bite when someone came into the hall.”

“Ahuh! Why did you come with him, then?” queried Jim, serenely.

“I had to come to this dance or die. Besides, I reckon I was some to blame. I told Darnell I wasn’t good enough for the Trafts an’ their crowd.”

“Molly, you’re generous, but you can’t save him now.”

“You leave him alone,” flashed Molly. “He carries a gun. He might hurt you—an’ thet’d shore kill me…I’ll tell Slinger. Honest I will. But Slinger has never even looked at me tonight. He must despise me.”

“No. Slinger is just angry with you…Now, Molly, you must not let Darnell take you home. Promise you won’t—or I’ll go right out now—”

“I promise, Jim. Please ask Slinger to take me away. I’m sick of this dance. I want to go home.”

“Out to the ranch?” he asked, hopefully.

“Home to the Cibeque, where I belong.”

“All right, I’ll find Slinger,” rejoined Jim, thinking fast and furiously. “But let’s dance again. There goes the music.”

Jim did not break the sweet tumultuousness of that dance by a single word. When it was over he asked Molly to wait near the door, and left her back somewhat out of the throng. Then he instituted a wild search for Gloriana, whom he found presently with Curly.

“Gee! you two must be having the time of your lives!” he exclaimed, surprised at Gloriana’s radiance and something indescribable about Curly.

“Jim, I am enjoying myself,” admitted Gloriana, with a blush.

“Boss, this heah is aboot as near heaven as I ever hope to get,” drawled Curly.

“Fine. Then you see Glory home.

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